Packaging apparatus



Oct. 23, 1945. J. LUNDAL EAL 4PACKAGIIm APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet Ot. 23, 1945.4 A 1v.` J. LUNVDAL ET AL l 2,387,452

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Shea?l 3 A oct. z3, 1945. A

A l. J. LUNDAL ET AL 2,387,452

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May' 16, 1940 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @IQ A Patented Oct. 23, 1945 PACKAGING ArPARATUs rngie J.,Lunaal, Maywood, lana charles F. Weinrech, Des Plaines, Ill., assignors to Cherry-Burtion rell Corporation, Wilmington, Del.a corpora- Application May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,440

11i claims. (o1. 226-24) This invention relates tothe lling of containers or packages with partially plastic materials `capable of being forcedV through a conduit into a container and requiring the maintenance of pressure on the material While it is being llplateincidental to the vnormal filling operation.

In the conventional apparatus of the type contemplated by this invention it is diiiicult to secure the constant and uniform application of pressure to the product being filled. This is especially true in the type of packaging apparatus packed `into the containersor packages to therein which the container, as it is being lled, is by" prevent the formation `of voids or' air pockets raised or'lowered. Obviously there are difficulin the lled product andto cause the product to ties incurred, suc-h as, for example, compensatconformto the shape of the container. The ining for the gradually increasing Weight of the vention is particularly well adapted for the packlo package as it is being lled and the diiculty of aging of plastic ice cream, leaf lard, etc. `adjusting the compensating mechanism for dif- More particularly this invention relates to imferent Weights incidental to filling packages of provements in mech'anismsof the iiuid lift type Various sizes and capacities'and also incidental for automatically lifting empty packages to a fllto the filling of such packages with products Aof ing and packaging nozzle or head and automatdifferent densities or weights per unit 0f volume. ically lowering the packages while they are being In most instances packaging equipment of the filled tosecure a uniformly filled package, and to type contemplated by this invention is used in suitable controls and adjustments for operating conjunction With continuous ice cream freezers. the mechanism and for adapting the apparatus Obviously there is a minimum of time available foroperaton` onvarious sizes of packages. The 2o for the adjustment of the packaging mechanism present invention is particularly well adapted for when changing from large packages to small use in the packaging of substantially form-repackages or vice versa, especially if it is not detainingj comestibles, such as ice cream, delivered sired to shut down the continuous freezer while continuously from a discharge conduit. such change is being accomplished. Consequent- "The aspect of the present inventiondisclosed ,25 1y it iS desirable t0 plOVide the necessary adjustprimarily in Figures 6 teil4, inclusive, `is disments which enable the rapid and accurate ad- 'cussed in detail and claimed in our cci-pending justment of the packaging mechanism te accomjdivisional application Serial No. 446,442, med modate different sized packages in a minimum of `June 10, 1942, and entitled Adjustable pipecoutime and, of course, to also accomplish this in `plmg," A i ,30 apparatus of sanitary design. the packaging of substantially form-re- The prime objects of this invention are,theretaining ice cream which is normally sold byvolufore, to provide a material packaging apparatus `metric measureand which, due to its nature, is of sanitary design in which is provided a norcompressiblaitis essential that the ice cream be madly` stationary materiel compressing and "uniformly packed into packages or containers to Spreading plate WhCh iS adjustably Supported avoidV the inclusion of large air pocketsin the 0u quickly adjustable Supports; in which the nedipackge and im` secure to finished package pressure uponthe material is maintained subin which the particular product is uniformly stantially constant throughout the entire opera- "packedfj To avoid the inclusion of air pockets tiOIl 0f llug a package; in which the apparatus fand to Secure a flushed package of uniform 40 is so constructed that the Ameans for applying tdnsity itis ccnventionau practice to iin the conn VConstant pressure to the product es it is being itairiersfrom the bottom upuand to use spreadlled also applies a variable lifting force upon erplateS or a filling head inthe filling operation the package as it increases in weight while it tofcause the ice cream as it fenters the package 1S being filled to thereby compensate for the `to `be spread out over the entire width of the gradually rlleasingweight of the package and package, thereby assuming the general contour lts COI1tentS; 1u Wtudh the apparatus WhCh apn n of`th`package The uniformity of the compactplies the variable lifting pressure on the package "ness with which the product is packed into the as 1t 1S belng tlef 1S leadlly and quickly adjustpackage depends ,upon the uniformity of the able for the lifting of. a package of different pressure applied to the product in the package Weight; 1n which the lifting mechanism. 1s adby the filling head or spreader plate-as th'e pack- JIJ-Stable t0 lm llt the height to which different @age is beingfllled.A e Such uniformpressure must Packages 0f d1f f1ent We1ght may be 11fted by be `maintained even though there is relative tht? afpparaus? lplghlchdthe tutllle hfugtala' Y Oka e and the s reader ra us may e quie y an posi ive y a Jus e or tmovement between the pa g p the handling of packages to `be filled with a that certain changes may be readily made inthe` embodiment of the herein disclosed invention and yet come within the scope of the claims without.

departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings inV which:

VFigure 1 isa side elevational view of the package lifting apparatuswith the lifting plunger in partially raised position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front detail elevational View of lthepackage lifting apparatus partially in broken-away section with the package lifting plunger in 'completely lowered position.

Figure 3 is a detail transverse sectional View through the upper portion of the plunger cylinder showing the manner of attaching the cylinder `to the table.

Figurel is a, plan `view of the package lifting apparatus.

Figure 5 is adetail side elevational view of the latch mechanism for locking the package lifting plunger in place when in its lowered position.

VFigure 6 is a side elevational view of the adjustable telescoping delivery tube whichv supports the filling head or spreader plate. In operation the apparatus shown in Figure 6 is positioned above the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure V'l is a transverse sectional view taken along line 1 1 of Figure 6.

IFigure 8 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 8 8 of Figure '7.Y 1 Figure 9 is a transverse sectional View Itaken along line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an elevationalview of the inner telescoping member of the sectional delivery tube shown in Figure 6.v l

Figure 11 is an elevational view of the outer telescoping member of thesectional delivery tube shown in Figure 6. i

Figure 12 is a perspective view ofthe resilient sealing gasket for sealing together the inner and outer telescoping members of the delivery tube.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the eccentric gripping member which is provided with an eccentric aperture for telescoping over the inner section of the sectional delivery tube.

. Figure 14 is a perspective view of a coupling nut provided with a guide-way for the eccentric gripping member shown in Figure 13.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like elements, there is illustrated a package ller especially adapted to ll a container or receptacle I5 of the conventional type used for the packingand storage of ice cream.

The ice cream which is usually of form-retaining stiffness is supplied from any suitable source, suchas a continuous freezer, through aconduit I6 which is rigidly supported by a bracket I'I and from which depends a sectional delivery tube having a filling head. The sectional delivery tube is comprised of an inner tubular element I8 which is Vconnected to the supply pipe I6 by a conven- .tional sanitary coupling I9 and which is telescopically fitted into the lower sectional element of the sectional delivery tube.

The lower element 20 is provided at its lower extremity with a pressure applying and material spreading filling head or spreader plate 2|. The iilling head or spreader plate 2| is adapted to apply pressure to the upper surface of the material as it is being packaged in the container I5 to' thereby prevent the formation of voids and to causethe material to assume the'shape of the package,

The sectional elements I8 and 20of the delivery tube are clamped one to another by a removable coupling nut 22 which is threaded onto the upper extremity of the outer section 20 of the sectional delivery tube. The coupling nut 22 is provided with an annular inwardly extending flange 23Aintermediate its ends and a substantially semi-annular inwardly extending liange 24 at the upper end of a segmental extension of a portion of the wall of the coupling nut, as is clearly illustrated in Figures 8 and 14. Upon the application of the coupling nut 22 to the upper end of the section 20 a resilient seating gasket 25 is interposed between the upper extremity of the section 20 and the flange v23. Upon the tightening of the nut 22 upon the section 20 thev resilient sealing gasket 25 will be compressed between the upper extremity of :the section 26 and the flange 23 to. thereby force the resilient sealing gasket 25 into sealing engagement with the outer periphery of the inner section I8 of the sectional delivery tube, thus sealing the sections I8 and 20 one to another. Y b

To releasably lock or clamp the sections I8 and 26 together to thus prevent relative axial motion ybetween the two sections, an eccentric 26. is positioned in the semi-annular bearing-formed by the segmental extension of the wall of the coupling nut 22 and the upper and lower faces of the flanges 23 and 24, respectively. The diameter of'theaperture in the eccentric 26 is just slightly 1arger than the outer diameter of the section I8 of the sectional delivery tube overv .,tatea within its bearings which have' just been defined. As clearly shown in Figures 7 and 9, the possible rotation of the eccentric ,26 within its bearings is limited by theends of the segmental extension ofthe wall of the nut 22.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the eccentric .isfree from engagement with the walls of the segmental extension 0f the nut 22 when inthe extreme position attainable by counter-clockwise rotation thereof. To cause a wedging action of the eccentric between the inner 4pipe I8 and the segmental extension of the wall of theA nut 22,'` it is only necessary tol partially rotate the eccentric 26 in clockwise direction until the thickerv portionof the cam 26 is urged into engagement with the 'outer wall of thesection I8 of the delivery con-` it is only necessary to rotate cam 26 ina counterclockwise Vdirection from its clamping or gripping I position until the sections I8 and Y2li are free'to move relative'to one another. vT9 facilitate the movement of the section 20 with respectl to the in any` suitable or conventional manner.

i of` composition or leather.`

.fixed tothe lower extremity of the shaft-.33 in section 18,5hand1es or gripsh28are provided immediately below the threaded upper extremity of wthe l outer section 20. i

The depending sectionalidelivery tube is posi- :upper end of a plunger33 which extends through ,fan `aperture in the table 29 and which is adapted for vertical reciprocation in a `complementary cyllinderi34 1in which the plunger 33 is responsive to .fluid pressure in the cylinder below the plunger 33. When the packaging apparatus is in operative arrangement or position the package liftingfand supporting mechanism comprised of the .support 32 and plunger 33 is arranged in vertical alinement with ,the filling head 2l iixedto the pend of the sectional delivery tube 20.

The` plunger cylinder 34 is-iixed to the table 29 by: means of a flanged hub35 to which it is attached in.. any conventional manner, such, for example, as by welds 36. The hub 35 has an aperture slightly larger than the outer periphery of the cylinder 34 and is fixed to the table 29 by `welding the fiangethere'of to the under surface :of` the `table as .by welds 31 with the aperture of the hub in axial alinement with the aperture in `the table 29 to thereby accommodate the free motion of the plunger 33.

.The plunger 33 may obviously be constructed However, inthe preferred embodiment thereof, it has been` shown as comprised of a hollow tube 33 of `appreciably smaller diameter than` the inner diameter of the cylinder 34.

i Theaplunger33 isiprovided at its lower extremity with a plunger cup 38 preferably made an inverted order, as clearly shown by the drawings,` so astobe responsive to iluid under pressureintroduced into the bottom of the cylinder "34. below the plunger cup 38. The `plunger cup `38 is of a suitable diameter to satisfactorily engage the walls ofthe cylinder 34 and is also removably attached to the plunger shaft 33. The `cup 38 is removably attached tothe plunger `shaft 33` in any conventional manner as by screw `39 and is braced for satisfactory operation by an apertured bracing disk 40 positioned above and below the laterally extending cup element and `.maintained in contact therewith by the screw 39.

1 :To assure the maintenance of axial alinement ,shaftl 33 and has an outer diameter to vclosely fit intoithe upper extremity of the aperture of the `hub 35 into which it is ylocked in position by a thumb screw 42.

Asthe plunger 33 is raised obviously the air .entrapped between the walls of the cylinder 34,.

the plunger shaft 33, the bushing 4I and plunger seal 38` must escape to permit the free motion of the plunger shaft 33. `To provide for such nec- .essary escape of the so entrapped air as the plunger is raised and` to also provide for the free The plunger cup is The bushentrance of air into thissame lspace as the plunger is lowered, an aperture 43 is provided in the wall of the cylinder 34 immediately above the `uppermost extent of the travel of the plunger leather or seal 38.

To lift the plunger 33, fluid under pressure, preferably air, is introduced into the bottom of the cylinder 34 through the conduit 44 which communicates with the lower extremity of the interior of the cylinder 34. The compressed air is supplied from a compressed air reservoir generally indicated by the numeral 45. The reservoir 45 is divided into compartments 46, 41 and 48, each of approximately one-half the capacity of the first `lower numbered compartment. Each of the cornpartments 46, 41 and 48 is provided with a separate uid conduit 49, 50 Vand 5|, respectively, through which the separate compartments communicate with the fluid header 52. The header 52 communicates with the air conduit 44 which in turn communicates with the lower extremity of the plunger cylinder 34.

Each of the conduits 49, 59 and 5I is provided with an adjustable valve mechanism 53,54 and 55, respectively, whereby any one of the compartments 46, 41 and 48 or any desired combination of these compartments may be placed in communication with the header 52.v By the establishment of such desired communication between the cylinder and an individual compartment or with a combination of compartments, compressed air may -be supplied to the interior of the cylinder 34 in any desired predetermined quantity and pressure. Such an arrangement provides the desired lifting and supporting power necessary to attain the desired results in the controlled lifting and supporting of packages by means of the iiuid pressure actuated package lifting and supporting mechanism comprised primarily ofthe cylinder 34, plunger 33 and package support 32.

To provide the original supply `of compressed air and to enable the replenishment thereof from time to time as the compressed air is dissipated during the normal use of the apparatus, an air pump 56 is provided. The pump 56 may be of any conventional type and size suitable for supplying the desired quantities of compressed air -munication with the conduit 51 may be provided with a supply of compressed air of 'the desired pressure. Having provided the desired supply of compressed air, the pressure of which is indicatedl by the gauge 59 in pipe 44 communicating with the header 52, the valve 58 is again closed and, upon the closing or opening of one or more of the valves `53, 54 and I55, the package lifting apparatus is in condition for operation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention `the reservoir 45 is superimposed about the cylinder 34 which extends entirely through the reservoir through apertures in the ends and in the partitions thereof, all of which are sealed to the outer wall of the cylinder 34. The pump 56 is lshown as being supported by strap 1| disposed about the reservoir 45 and clamped thereto in any suitable manner, such as by tightening screws.

Obviously the specific construction of the'reservoir .45 which,` as shown, is superimposed over cylinder 34 and the specific arrangement of the `header 52 andpump 56 are not essential to the satisfactory operation of the present invention. In allprobability otherarrangements of the reservoir 45 and the pump 56 can beeasily designed which will come within the scope of'the present invention. Y Y

In the operation of the package lifting and supporting mechanism it is obviously desirable from time to time to handle packages of diierent sizesand capacities. For this purpose the compartments 46, 41 and 48 of the Vreservoir 45 'are designed to have a capacity suitable for the handling yof the various conventional sizes of packages used on a machine of the type described. Howmunication with the header 52 through which the combined supply of compressed air becomes Veffective uponthe plunger 33. u Y

Obviously further flexibility may also be ob- ;tained by the use of compressed air of diiferent pressures. Such different pressures of compressed air would, of course, be selected in view of the results desired. Still further flexibility, particularly as to the performance of the apparatus when it is desired to regulate the speed of the mo- .tion of the plunger 33, may readily be obtained by so adjusting any of the valves 53, 54 and 55 to vregulate the speed with which the compressed air flowsfrom the respective compartments of the reservoir into the cylinder 34.

`From time to time it may become desirable to release the compressed air from the apparatus for the purpose of draining condensed moisture which may accumulate therein. For this purpose a drain cock 69 is provided at the lower end of the header 52.

In the operation of the package filling apparatus, as described, an empty package or container I5 is moved from the elevated guide bars 6I on the top surface of the table 29 by sliding the same onto the top surface of the support 32 when said support is in its lowered position, as shown in Figure 2. The support 32 which is carried by the plunger 33, if not manually placed in its lowered position as indicated in Figures 2 and 3 and if'the cylinder 34 is supplied with compressed air, may be compressed into such lowered position by the weight of a lled container. I5. When the plunger reaches the lowered position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the support 32 engages the pivoted latch'62, one end of which is provided with a catch 63 to engage -port 32.

Obviously various forms of latches may conveniently be designed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the latch 62 comprises Va short lever pivoted in an unbalanced manner Y 'intermediate its ends on bracket 64 and is pro- ,vided' `at`its forward and lighter end with the catchg63 and at its opposite andheavier end with a cam face 65.l 'Ihe cam face 65 facilitates the automatic engagement and disengagement of ythe catch 63 with-the support 32 which in each instance must first pass the catch 63 while traveling downwardly to its lowered position which is accomplished by engaging the upper surface of th'e catch 63 and pivoting the latch 62 until sufcient clearance is allowed to permit the support vends o-n a bracket 68 and is biased by a spring 69 into a position in which they latch 62 may engage and continue to engage the support 32. To release'the support 32 it is only necessary to press inwardly on the hand grip 16 on the lower end of the lever 61 to thereby engage the cam faces 66 and 65, thus pivotally moving latch v62 to force the support 32 downwardly a'trifle until the Icatch 63 will have rotated into position to clear the support 32, thereby releasing the same. As soon as the support 32 is thus released' it may again be raised by the plunger 33.V

Upon releasing the pressure on the hand-piece 10 the entire latching mechanism, as just described, automatically resets itself to again grip and hold the support 32 -when it again returns to its lowered position. To maintain the spring 69 in position any conventional arrangement of studs or the like over the ends of which the spring may be telescoped may be used.

In the operation of the improvements in a package filling apparatus, as just described, the ice cream or other material which normally is of form-retaining stiffness is supplied under pressure through the supply pipe I6 and through the 'sectional delivery tube depending therefrom into vthe container I5. The container I5 which is norm'ally moved into position adjacent the package lifting apparatus table 29 by a continuous conveyor (not shown) is pushed by the pressure of adjacent packages onto the slides or skids 6I on 4the upper surface of the table 29.

When the support 32 is'in its lowered position, a package will be pushed onto the support 32 and, when the package is in centered position on the support 32, the operator may apply an inward pressure to Vthe hand-piece 16, thus releasing therplunger whichv in turn will then lift the package into filling position below the'lling head 2l 'which extends into the package I5 to a position' immediately adjacent the bottom thereof.. As the ice cream or other material continues to be discharged from the sectional de- 65'. livery tube through the aperture in the filling spreaderplate or lling head 2| which also tends to apply pressure t0 the material below the plate 2| due to the fact that the plate 2l is stationary and the support 32 continually urges the package I5 upwardly.

While the package I 5 is being filled, the weight l of the material in the package tends to force the support 32 downwardly under a, continually increaslng downward pressure; This increasing 34 to fully compensate for the weight of a filled i packagewwhen the plunger 3'3 is in its` lowered position plus the desired pressure which it is desiredtoapply to the upper surface of the material inthe package throughout the entire i'llling operation, which latter pressure should be maintained substantiallyconstant throughout the filling operation.` When a package has been filled, the plunger 33 will have been forced `to its lowered position, thus enabling the latch 62 to grip the support 32 by means of the catch 63 locking the `support 32 in its loweredposition to enable the removal of the 'iilled container from the support 32 and the movement `of `an empty container into position `on the support whereupon the` entire iillingi operation may then be repeated.

As previously pointed out, due to the novel arrangement of a compartmental compressed air reservoir, each of which compartments communicates with a header through which compressed airissllpplied to the plunger cylinder of the fluid lift and each of `which is individually controlled by an adjustable valve, a great flexibility in the operating,characteristics and capacities of the apparatus ,is` obtainable.

, `Having thus described the invention and the preferred embodiment thereof, in which certain of` the` improved features and advantages have been, particularly stressed, it is `desired t0 point out that the preferred embodiment of the invention is `probably subject `to various modifications as to form and details of construction which will become apparent rto those skilled in the art upon examining the specification, drawingsand claims. y

Accordingly, it` is` desired to point out that this invention isrnot to be limited to the specific disclosure` except in so `far as it is necessitated by theteachings of the prior art andthe spirit of the` appended claims. i

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: i 1.` A receptacle filling device `comprising in i combination a material supply conduit, a dependent delivery conduit adapted to project into the open top of a receptacle, means` for gradually raisingV a receptacle to be filled, a laterally extending member at the lower end `of said delivery i conduit adapted to` laterally distribute the material as it accumulates beneath said member, said means comprising support means having selectivecapacities for supporting and lowering said receptacleto the position occupied by said receptacleprior tothe raising operation as the material` accumulates therein and to maintain i said member in contact with the upper surface of, said material at a substantially constant pressure. Y

2.`A receptacle filling device comprising, in

combination, a material supply., conduit, a', de`

pendent delivery conduitadapted to projectinto the open top of a receptacle, means for gradually raising areceptacle to befilled, andra laterally extending member at the lower end` of said delivery;,conduit` adapted to `laterally distribute the materiatas it accumulates beneath `said member,

said meanshaving selective capacities for raising said receptacle also comprising support means for supporting and loweringqu said receptacle to the position occupied by said receptacle priorA to thexraising operation as the material accumulates therein and to maintain said member in contact with the upper surface of said material with a substantially constant pressure.

3. A deviceof'the class described comprising, in combination, a sectional delivery conduit for delivering material and ,adapted to project into the open rtop voi" a receptacle, a pressure applying and material'distributing member on the lower end'r of said delivery conduit adapted to apply pressure and laterally distribute the material as it accumulates beneath said member, means for lifting said receptacle to filling position, said means comprising mechanism for' varying the speed of the lifting movement" of saidreceptacle, means for supporting said receptacle,I said iirst mentioned means also comprising means for selectively applyinga variabley lift` to said supporting means while said receptacle' is being lled to maintain said member in contact with the upper surface of said material with a substantially constant pressure, whereby said receptacle is lowered to unloading `position solely by the combined weight of said receptacle and accumulated material. i

4. iA receptacle filling device including .a sec-A tional material delivery; tube, clamping means for releasably maintaining the sectionsioisaid delivery tube in fixed axial position relative to one another, a movable lifter for said receptacle, means for varying the speed of movement of said lifter, a pressure applying member at the' lower end of said sectional delivery tube adapted to apply pressure on accumulated material in said receptacle `whereby to move said lifter and receptacleiaway from said member to a receptacle unloading position solely by the weight of the receptacle and material which accumulates'beneath said member, and` said means also comprising means for selectivelyapplying variable pressure urging saidlifter toward said member, saidvariable pressure applying means being adapted to apply pressure to said lifter in `a manner 'Varying in proportion to the movement of said lifter to-or from said member. o o

5. A device for filling a receptacle comprising a support, a relatively lixed material delivery conduit positioned above saidsupport, a movable receptacle liitv mechanism on said support having fluid pressure operated means for gradually lifting said lift mechanism into operative` filling position with respect to said delivery conduit, a multicompartment fluid` pressurereservoir, a header communicatingwith said lift mechanism, a plurality 4of valved fluid conduits, each communicat-` ing with said header and-with one of said compartments, said compartments being of diiierent capacities, anda pressure applying and material distributing member on` said delivery conduit, whereby as material accumulates in said receptacle beneath said member said lift mechanism will:v be moved downwardly by the weight of said accumulated material, said fluid pressure operated means ,beingl so constructed and arranged -as to maintain the `upper surface ofpsaid material accumulating in said receptacle in contact with said pressure, applying ,member with a substantially constant pressure,I thereby compressing the ma-l terialfilled intosaid receptacle. Y 16, A ldevice `for lling a receptacle comprising a supper@ o a, relatively fixed material delivery conduit positioned above said support, a movable r'eceptacle lift mechanism on said support havingr iiuidV pressure operated means for controllably lifting said lift mechanism into operative filling position with respect to'said delivery conduit, a multi-compartment fluid 4pressure reservoir, a

header` communicating with said lift mechanism,v

a plurality of valved Afluid conduits, each communicating with said header and with one of said compartments, said compartments being of different'capacities, a valve in said header between said fluid conduits and said lift mechanism, and

a pressure applying and material distributing upper surface of said material accumulating in said receptacle in contact with said pressure applying member with a substantially constant pressure, thereby compressing the material filled into said receptacle. Y

7. A package handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a spout for delivering material into a package, a package support being vertically reciprocable beneath said spout, selective lift means for applying a variable upward lift on said package support in proportion to the weight of the accumulated material in said package, said support being so constructed and arranged as to be forced downwardly to its unloading position solely by the weight of the package and material accumulated therein during the package filling operation, said lift means being of the fluid lift type and being constructed and arranged to permit the gradual lowering of said support at a ccnstant rate directly in proportion to the increase in weight of the material accumulated in said package, and comprising a plurality of supplies of lifting fluid under pressure, and means for selectively controlling the flow of lifting fluid to said lift means for selectively regulating the speed of the upward and downward motion of said lift means.

8. A packaging device comprising, in combination, lifting mechanism for controllably lifting a receptacle to a predetermined position, means for varying the speed and capacity of the lifting movement of said lifting mechanism, a delivery conduit adapted to project into the open end of the receptacle and deliver material thereinto, means on the delivery conduit for applying pressure to the material delivered into the receptacle, whereby to lower said receptacle during the lling operation to the position occupied by said receptacle prior to the commencement of the lifting operation while maintaining a substantially uniform pressure upon the material through the pressure applying means.

9. A lling device for a receptacle including a material supply conduit, a dependent delivery conduit adapted to project into the open top of a receptacle, a laterally extending member at the lower end of the delivery conduit adapted to laterally distribute the material as the material accumulates beneath said member in said receptacle, means having selective capacities for supporting said receptacle as the material accumulates therein, said means being adapted to maintain said laterally extending member in contact with the upper surface of said material at a substantially constant pressure as the material accumulates in said receptacle, whereby said support isdepressedtor a receptacle unloading position solelyby thev joint weight of said receptacle andthe material accumulated therein.

, 10. A receptacle lling device `comprising,"in

combination, a material supply conduit, a dependent delivery conduit adapted to projectinto the open top of a receptacle, means for controllably raising a receptacle to be filled, a laterally extending member at'the lower end of said delivery conduit adapted to laterally distribute the material as i-t accumulates beneath said member, said means comprising support means having selec-A tive capacities for supporting and controllably lowering 4said receptacle to receptacle unloading position as the material accumulates therein and' to maintain said member in contact with the upper surface of said material with a substantially constant pressure, said receptacle being lowered solely by the combined'weight of said receptacle and accumulated material, and a latch for automatically locking said means for supporting'said receptacle upon the lowering o-f saidreceptacle to its lowered position on said support means. i

l1. A device for filling a receptacle comprising a support, a material delivery conduit positioned Yabove said support, a receptacle lift mechanism on said support having vseleotive-capacities in which operating fluids under selected'v pressures may be store-d for controllably lifting said lift mechanism into operative position with respect to said delivery conduit, and a pressure applying and material distributingmember on said deliveryV conduit, whereby as material accumulates in said receptacle beneath said member-said lift mechanisml is moved downwardly by the weight of said accumulated material to the position occupied by said lift mechanism before the lifting was commenced, said fluid pressure operated means being so constructed and arranged as'to maintain the upper surface of said material accumulating in said receptacle in contact with said pres.V sure applying member with a substantially constant pressure. 12. A device for filling a receptacle comprising a support, a material delivery conduit positioned above said support, a receptacle lift mechanism on said support having fluid 'pressure operated means for controllably lifting said lift mechanism. into operative position with respect to said delivery conduit, a reservoir means for fluid under pressure, said reservoir means' having'seleotive capacities, valve means for controlling the flow of uid from said reservoir'means to said lift mechanism whereby to regulate the speed of the upward movement of said lift mechanism, and a pressure applying and material distributing member on said delivery conduit, whereby as material accumulates in said receptacle beneath said member said lift mechanism will be moved downwardly by the weight of said accumulated material t'o the position occupied by said lift mechanism at the commencement of said lifting operation, said fluid pressure operated means being so vcons-tructed and arranged as to maintain the upper surface of said material accumulating in said receptacle in contact with said pressure applying member with a substantially constant pressure. Y

13. A package handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a material delivery spout, Va package support adapted to be moved up and down beneath said spout and arranged to be forced downwardly to its unloading position solely by therweight ofthe material acciunulating in said package during the fllingoperation, and means l of selective capacities for selectively applying a variable upward lift on said package support in proportion to the weight of the accumulated material in saidpackage, said means being so constructed and arranged as to permit the gradual lowering of said lift at a constant rate directly in proportion to the constant increase in weight of the accumulated material as well as to permit the gradual raising of said package when empty.

14. A package handling apparatus adapted to handle packages Varyingl substantially in weight comprising, in combination, a material delivery spout having a spreader head, a package support capable of controlled and gradual up and down movement beneath said spout and arranged to be `forced downwardly to unloading position solely by the weight of the material accumulating in said package during the filling operation, means having selective capacities for applying a variable upward lift on said package support in proportion to the weight of the accumulated material in said package, said means having selective capacities being so constructed and arranged as to permit the gradual lowering of said lift at a constant rate directly in proportion to the constant increase in weight of the accumulated material, and to maintain a head on said spout in contact with the upper surface of said material with a constant pressure throughout .the filling operal tion.

INGIE J. LUNDAL. CHARLES F. WEINREICH. 

